Solomon felt as if he had been through the most annoying nap of his life.
Nothing felt quite like it should have. His bones were stiff and all of his muscles seemed sore.
He could tell right away that he was lying on the floor. Though the reason as to why still eluded him.
He didn't particularly want to think about anything right now. His greatest desire was to find a more comfortable position to lie in.
As he tossed and turns, he hears familiar voices all around him that he can't exactly place.
"He's a very ... fascinating specimen."
"Don't get too close to him and keep your hands where I can see them!"
Solomon hears laughter from somewhere far away.
"Something funny?"
"Indeed. Your brashness and naivety seem to be an inherited family trait that you've nurtured since you were young. Do you honestly believe that you could stop me if I were to wish him harm?"
"Do not speak as if you know me, witch!"
"Oh, how amusing you are. I fear I now know you and your brother here quite well."
"Seeing a few memories doesn't give you absolute insight!"
"No, it doesn't. But sorting through all of them paints a detailed enough picture."
"You had no right to look at those!"
"… Indeed not. I was a bit hasty in my approach due to the sensitive nature of his request. If I'd known that he was asking for you, I would have reacted differently."
For the first time in a while, Solomon hears silence. Sweet, welcoming silence.
It pulls him deeper into his exhaustion. He felt as if he could stay asleep forever.
But then he heard the male voice again.
"…What do you mean he was asking for me...? What did he want from you??"
"Surely it won't be hard for you to guess. What is the one thing in the world that you don't currently have?"
Solomon finally opened his eyes and sat up abruptly.
The first thing he saw was Yari looming above him, her hand on his chest. Raizel was a short distance away, leaning against the wall with his arms folded.
"Oh. Welcome back to the land of the livi-"
Yari can barely get her words out before Solomon knocks her hand away and rolls out of her reach.
He draws his sword out of thin air and points it at her. The orange eye in the pommel burns brightly with a craving for bloodshed that matches his own.
"...I can't say I didn't suspect this." Yari sighed as she sat cross-legged on the ground. "Though, would I be wasting my breath if I told you that trying to kill me here might not give you the results you are expecting?"
"I will settle for the glory of the attempt...!"
Yari seemed at least mildly taken aback. The look on her face made Raizel want to laugh.
"...You're angry. I understand. But you must understand, it was not my intention to cause trouble to one... such as yourself."
Solomon's eyes briefly lose their anger and widen further. "You..."
"She read your memories, brother." Raizel said painfully. "I'm afraid she's seen everything."
Solomon swung his sword.
"I won't tell anyone!"
His massive blade stopped millimeters away from Yari's slender neck. Her skin prickled at the heat and negativity flowing off the blade in waves.
"...I'll draw up a contract. You can be the benefactor this time." Yari said. "I promise that I will not divulge anything about your identity to anyone outside of this room. Least of all, Abel Olethros."
Raizel's posture straightens as he places his arms down. "So he really is.."
"Yes, he is your grandfather. Though there are very few in the academy who are aware of that, and even fewer who are aware of why he is here. Namely, just the Dean."
Yari turned back to Solomon.
"I can be quite helpful to you. All I ask for is a little bit of cooperation."
"...Cooperation?"
"Allow me to study you. It is all I ask." Yari shuffled forward. "In exchange, you will have the backing of an instructor of Volkova Academy and the daughter of the dean. It is an unattainable dream for many, I'll have you know."
Solomon's eyes widened. "...Your father is the dean?"
"Adoptive, but yes. He assigned me to you because he wanted to know everything there was to learn about your little 'armament'. He has an interest in completing his set, you see."
"...That's why you showed me such favoritism."
"At first, yes. But knowing about your talent for multiple elements changed my priorities around a bit. I have a softer spot for gifted students unafraid of challenge." she smiled innocently.
Yari moved suddenly, and Solomon pressed his blade into her neck. His eyes were still wary.
"...I am only going to prepare a contract." Yari spoke as if she were taming a bear. "You're free to watch my every action if that is what you wish."
"I never agreed to sign any contract with you."
"Oh? But I thought you were smarter than to refuse..."
Yari stood up despite Solomon's blade still being pointed at her.
She walked over to her desk and opened up the top drawer, removing a roll of parchment from the drawer.
"Name your terms. I assume that I won't tell anyone about your true identity is number one on the list?"
Solomon and Raizel were unknowingly making the exact same expression.
'...I should just kill her, right?'
'I don't think you can. She's way too comfortable for someone who's afraid to die.'
'I do not trust her.'
'Neither do I. But if she is willing to enter herself into a legitimate contract with you that can be exploited, then we'd be fools not to take the risk. She's at least an eighth-circle mage!"
Solomon wanted to say that Yari didn't use circles. She practiced another path of magic that relied on the evolution of what she called 'spirit hearts'.
However, the words wouldn't leave his mouth. It felt as if they were stuck just on the tip of his tongue.
'Brother..? What do you think?'
"..." Solomon finally put away his sword.
He glared at Yari for a long time before stamping toward her.
"...Put down that you cannot lie to me as number two."
Yari began writing without complaint.
"Anything else?"
Solomon glanced at Raizel.
"...Yes. You have to help me find a way to bring my brother back to life."
"Solomon!" Raizel began.
"Shut up. It's my contract. I can put whatever I damn well please in it."
Raizel's frustration was something Solomon had no issue ignoring. Not this time, anyway.
Rather, he was focused on Yari.
He watched her reaction carefully, picking up on every minute twitch of her face or pause in her breathing.
"...You know how to do it, don't you?" Solomon asked.
Yari did not say anything. She simply continued to write.
Solomon was beyond baffled. As was Raizel.
"...Who are you?"
Yari puts down her quill pen.
Before the eyes of the brothers, her body begins to grow until she is too large for her chair.
Her ears are too long to be hidden by the bountiful curls of her hair.
Her beauty is, without exaggeration, one of the very few things that Solomon felt could be an actual weapon against him.
She was strength and elegance. Calculation and confidence.
And Solomon had never in his life seen anyone else like her.
"If I'm going to back you, then you really should start making smarter decisions. That was certainly a question you should have waited to ask me until after I signed the contract."